Qi Zhenzhen emerged from the woods carrying a wild rabbit and two quails. Time had been short, and these were all she managed to hunt.
While the Zhang brothers were working, she had informed Yun Shi before heading into the mountains.
The provisions were a bit meager, but better than nothing. Combined with the two pumpkins from Aunt Mo and the steamed buns she had prepared that morning, it might not be a feast, but it would certainly be enough to fill their stomachs.
Seeing her return with the rabbit and quails, the Zhang brothers belatedly realized Qi Zhenzhen had gone hunting.
“Zhang second brother, Zhang younger brother, please stay for dinner tonight,” Qi Zhenzhen invited them casually.
Wild rabbit and quail were meat, after all.
Zhang Xiaoniu unconsciously swallowed. His second brother occasionally hunted game, but most of the time, they took it to the town to sell. When they did keep some for themselves, it was never much for the four men, mainly because the four brothers were such hearty eaters.
Zhang Erniu was more reserved. He wasn’t sure of the Qi family’s circumstances and felt it wasn’t quite right to accept an invitation for dinner.
“No, no, we have dinner prepared at home. We’ll just go back and eat,” Zhang Erniu said, hoisting his hoe and pulling Zhang Xiaoniu away.
“Our days will get better from now on,” Qi Zhenzhen said, as if speaking to them, but also to herself. “You’ve worked hard all afternoon; we can’t possibly not offer you a meal.”
Qi Zhenzhen’s tone was firm. Zhang Erniu thought for a moment and decided that he and Xiaoniu wouldn’t ask for wages for their work.
The prospect of staying for dinner spurred the brothers on. After confirming with Qi Zhenzhen, they turned over the area she intended to use as a vegetable garden three times.
By the time they finished their work, Qi Zhenzhen’s meal was ready.
One quail was braised, the other stewed. The wild rabbit was stir-fried with chili.
She also cooked a roasted old pumpkin and simmered pumpkin porridge.
With meat and vegetable dishes, as well as soup, and both staple foods and porridge, the meal was more than adequate for guests.
Except for the chili-fried rabbit meat, Qi Zhenzhen served portions of the remaining dishes to Yun Shi in the house.
Yun Shi ate by herself, while Qi Zhenzhen, Qi Yi, and the Zhang brothers ate together.
Qi Zhenzhen brushed aside Yun Shi’s rule about not dining with unrelated men, saying, “Mother, we needed Zhang second brother’s help to build the courtyard wall, and he and Zhang Xiaoniu guarded the gate for us these past few days. We must show our gratitude.”
If Qi Yi were older, he could have handled the hosting. But now, Qi Yi was still a child, and it wouldn’t be appropriate to have a child entertain guests.
As the four of them sat down at the table, Zhang Erniu remained relatively composed, but Zhang Xiaoniu was completely unable to contain himself.
The steamed buns looked delicious, white, large, and fluffy. Thinking of the dark, hard lumps of dough his elder brothers usually made, Zhang Xiaoniu felt a pang of injustice. What they made were hardly buns; these were true buns.
The old pumpkin was sweet and melted in the mouth.
The braised quail was truly delicious, and the broth from the stewed quail was smooth and comforting.
The chili-fried rabbit meat was perfect with the buns.
Zhang Xiaoniu ate with tears of joy in his eyes. Zhang Erniu, who had been calm at first, eventually began to eat with similar gusto, practically wolfing down the food.
Qi Zhenzhen and Qi Yi had smaller appetites, each eating one bun and drinking a bowl of porridge with the dishes.
The entire pot of steamed buns from the morning and the dishes prepared that evening were consumed by the two brothers.
That was over a dozen steamed buns.
The saying “Half-grown boys can bankrupt their fathers” was indeed fitting.
After the whirlwind of eating, Zhang Erniu and Zhang Xiaoniu began to feel embarrassed. They were eating at someone else’s house, and they had eaten so heartily. It was utterly mortifying. What would the hosts think? They would surely assume the brothers had starved themselves for days to eat this meal.
Zhang Erniu wanted to explain, but he didn’t know how. They had eaten all the buns and dishes, even slurping down the half-basin of porridge. There was nothing edible left on the table.
Qi Zhenzhen didn’t think much of it, merely remarking on the brothers’ large appetites. It made sense why the Zhang brothers’ family lived so poorly. With such appetites, the farm’s yield was likely insufficient. Any money earned was probably spent on food, leaving nothing to save.
“Zhang second brother, Zhang younger brother, are you full? I can make more if you’re still hungry,” Qi Zhenzhen asked.
*Burp*
Zhang Xiaoniu obligingly let out a loud burp. Blushing, he felt embarrassed to burp in front of the girl he admired.
“We’re full, we’re full. Xiaoniu is stuffed. Qi girl, your cooking is too delicious; both Xiaoniu and I got carried away,” Zhang Erniu interjected. “We’re truly sorry.”
Qi Zhenzhen waved her hand. Since she had decided to provide dinner, she certainly wanted them to eat their fill. What was there to be embarrassed about?
Zhang Xiaoniu eagerly offered to help clear the dishes. He felt he had been too carried away and worried Qi Zhenzhen might look down on him. Zhang Xiaoniu resolved to make a good impression.
Unable to refuse him, Qi Zhenzhen let him proceed.
Zhang Xiaoniu was very efficient at washing dishes. In a short while, the bowls, chopsticks, and table were all cleaned.
As dusk began to fall, Zhang Erniu quickly pulled Zhang Xiaoniu back to their shed. Lingering longer might invite gossip from those with ulterior motives. As for sleeping in the shed outside, that was easily explained. He had been entrusted with building the Qi family’s courtyard wall, and the bricks were all prepared; he needed to keep a close watch on them.
The Qi family had no oil lamps. Qi Zhenzhen and Qi Yi quickly washed up and climbed onto the heated brick bed.
Yun Shi told stories to Qi Yi, while Qi Zhenzhen pondered installing a heated brick bed in the other room. It was fine for her and Yun Shi to share one, but Qi Yi was a boy, and it wasn’t appropriate for him to stay with them indefinitely.
The next morning, while it was still dawn, Qi Zhenzhen heard sounds of exertion from outside. She dressed in the dark and tiptoed out of the room.
In the dim light, she could see two figures, one large and one small, practicing martial arts with proper form.
Qi Zhenzhen then remembered that the Zhang brothers had been in the shed outside last night.
Recalling Qi Yi’s request, Qi Zhenzhen turned back into the room and quietly woke him up.
After Qi Yi was dressed, the siblings went out of the room together.
Zhang Erniu stopped his movements and greeted Qi Zhenzhen.
Qi Zhenzhen nodded at him and prepared to lead Qi Yi in starting with running. Physical fitness needed to be improved first, before considering stances and punches.
After the siblings had run only a few steps, Zhang Erniu and Zhang Xiaoniu also joined them.
Zhang Xiaoniu was very curious. “Zhenzhen, why are you leading Qi Yi in running?”
Qi Zhenzhen stopped. “You shouldn’t talk while running; it’s easy to inhale wind and get a stitch. As for why we’re running, it’s a way to make his body stronger. Zhang younger brother and Zhang second brother don’t have to join the running.”
After speaking, Qi Zhenzhen led Qi Yi and resumed running.
Zhang Erniu and Zhang Xiaoniu exchanged glances and started running as well.
If it made the body stronger, they would follow.
It was Qi Yi’s first day of exercise, and it was better to do too little than too much. Qi Zhenzhen timed it, and they stopped after running for twenty minutes.
Even so, Qi Yi was panting heavily from exhaustion.